A HUSBAND accused of killing his former Midland teacher wife and their baby daughter has been branded a Walter Mitty-style character who lived a bizarre double life.

Relatives of tragic Rachel Entwistle said her husband, Neil, had betrayed their trust. They spoke out as the 27-year-old appeared in court in America yesterday charged with murdering her and the couple's nine-month-old child, Lillian.

"To think someone we loved, trusted and looked up to could do this to our daughter is beyond belief," they said. "We are astonished and devastated to learn of the hidden life of Neil Entwistle.

"We never suspected he was anything other than a loving son-in-law, husband and father. Neil betrayed our trust in so many ways it is almost impossible to describe."

American-born Rachel worked at Augustine's Catholic High School, in Redditch, before she returned to the States with her family. She and Lillian were found dead at their home in Massachusetts on January 20.

Entwistle, from Nottinghamshire, fled back to Britain but agreed to be extradited last week.

Prosecutors said they believed the unemployed computer programmer killed his wife and daughter with one of Mr Matterazzo's guns after running up tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

According to court papers, he searched the internet for details of how to kill people and commit suicide days before the deaths.

Police documents revealed he also looked up escort services and websites offering help finding sexual partners in the Boston and Worcester areas of Massachusetts.

Entwistle, who has denied the charges, was ordered to be held without bail by a judge at Framingham District Court, in Massachusetts.

His lawyer, Elliot Weinstein, said outside court that he would "vigorously, aggressively and successfully" defend his client.